Senior Systems Safety Engineer
Job description
Looking for an opportunity to make an impact?
At Leidos, we deliver innovative solutions through the efforts of our diverse and talented people who are dedicated to our customers’ success. We empower our teams, contribute to our communities, and operate sustainable. Everything we do is built on a commitment to do the right thing for our customers, our people, and our community. Our Mission, Vision, and Values guide the way we do business.
Are you ready for your next career challenge?
Leidos Defense provides a diverse portfolio of systems, solutions, and services covering land, sea, air, space, and cyberspace for customers worldwide. Solutions for Defense include enterprise and mission IT, large-scale intelligence systems, command and control, geospatial and data analytics, cybersecurity, logistics, training, and intelligence analysis and operations support. Our team is solving the world’s toughest security challenges for customers with “can’t fail” missions.
Leidos Defense is seeking a Senior System Safety Engineer to join a matrixed organization of systems engineers, model-based systems engineers, and specialty systems engineers. This Senior System Safety Engineer will primarily support a hypersonics development program, but has the opportunity to support multiple efforts.
These efforts will involve analysis of the systems hardware and software safety to the operator and equipment in accordance with MIL-STD-882, consisting of both classified and unclassified work. The System Safety Engineer will work independently, coordinating with other Integrated Product Teams (IPTs) on these efforts, defining their own tasking derived from customer needs and contractual documents.
Each effort will require different specific safety artifacts including hazard tracking, mitigation, and regular reporting to the customer via deliverables. The Safety Engineer will lead the prime contractor system safety working group both engaging the customer and work hand-in-hand with the program's systems engineering team to ensure system compliance and verify customer needs are met. This role offers the opportunity to make a significant impact on critical defense programs while developing expertise across multiple concurrent efforts.
A candidate with experience in other engineering areas such as Risk Management, Systems Engineering, Human Factors Engineering, and Reliability Analysis will be treated preferentially. Success in this organization often leads to leadership positions in System Safety Engineering, Systems Engineering, and Systems Engineering Integration and Test (SEIT).
Basic Qualifications
- Bachelor’s degree in Systems Engineering, Software Engineering, Computer Science, Computer Engineering, Electrical Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Aerospace Engineering, or equivalent degree from an ABET-accredited university with 12+ years of experience or an MS with 10+ years.
- Demonstrated familiarity with MIL-STD-882E and its application to system safety programs.
- Demonstrated ability to collaborate across engineering disciplines for complex defense systems.
- Resident of the North Alabama area or willing to relocate to the Huntsville - North Alabama, AL area.
- Possess a secret clearance.
Preferred Qualifications
Preference shown to candidates who possess a Master of Science in Safety or System Engineering from an ABET-accredited university, and/or have at least 6 years of direct system safety engineering experience. Preferred candidates will also have experience and/or working knowledge with:
- Familiarity with AR 385-10, AR 385-16, AR 770-3, JSSSEH, and AMCOM 385-17
- Knowledge of Army Safety Board processes and preparation
- Software System Safety Technical Review Panel (SSSTRP) coordination
- Experience conducting hazard analyses (PHA, FHA, SHA, SSHA, O&SHA, EHA, HHA, FTA, FMEA)
- Proficiency with safety tools and databases (e.g., hazard tracking systems, model-based systems engineering, requirement databases) or other tools (JAMA, CAMEO, and JIRA)
- Demonstrated experience effectively leading a team of engineers
- Demonstrated experience accurately estimating the engineering effort (i.e. hours) associated with System Safety Engineering tasks
- INCOSE Systems Engineering Professional (SEP) certification (ASEP or CSEP)
If you're looking for comfort, keep scrolling. At Leidos, we outthink, outbuild, and outpace the status quo — because the mission demands it. We're not hiring followers. We're recruiting the ones who disrupt, provoke, and refuse to fail. Step 10 is ancient history. We're already at step 30 — and moving faster than anyone else dares.
Original Posting:
November 2, 2026For U.S. Positions: While subject to change based on business needs, Leidos reasonably anticipates that this job requisition will remain open for at least 3 days with an anticipated close date of no earlier than 3 days after the original posting date as listed above.
Pay Range:
Pay Range $131,300.00 - $237,350.00The Leidos pay range for this job level is a general guideline only and not a guarantee of compensation or salary. Additional factors considered in extending an offer include (but are not limited to) responsibilities of the job, education, experience, knowledge, skills, and abilities, as well as internal equity, alignment with market data, applicable bargaining agreement (if any), or other law.
Skills mentioned

Leidos is a Fortune 500® innovation company rapidly addressing the world’s most vexing challenges in national security and health. The company's global workforce of 48,000 collaborates to create smarter technology solutions for customers in heavily regulated industries. Headquartered in Reston, Virginia, Leidos reported annual revenues of approximately $15.4 billion for the fiscal year ended December 29, 2023. Leidos was cited for the meaningful work employees perform that is challenging, impactful, and aligned with our customers’ missions as reasons professionals want to work and stay at our company. Leidos has also been named to lists including Forbes’ Best Employers for Diversity, Forbes’ America’s Best Employers for Women, Military Times Best for Vets Employers, and Ethisphere Institute’s World's Most Ethical Companies®. Employees enjoy career enrichment opportunities available through mobility and development and experience rewarding relationships with supportive supervisors and talented colleagues and customers. Employees appreciate our flexible work environment, allowing for and encouraging a true work-life balance. Our professionals are also excited about our Employee Resource Groups, like the Collaborative Outreach with Remote and Embedded Employees (CORE), which strives to create an environment where every employee, regardless of location, feels fully engaged as a valued employee of Leidos. Your most important work is ahead, visit careers.leidos.com for our latest opportunities.
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